James and Heneage among British Book Industry Awards judges

Authors Peter James and James Heneage, critic and author Amanda Craig and former Hachette deputy c.e.o. David Young will help judge this year’s British Book...

Authors Peter James and James Heneage, critic and author Amanda Craig and former Hachette deputy c.e.o. David Young will help judge this year’s British Book Industry Awards, to be held on 9th May at Grosvenor House in London.

They join Sandy Mahal, former director of The Space; George Lossius, former chief executive of Publishing Technology and current chair of Midas PR; Catherine Taylor, deputy director of English PEN; Michael Neil, former books director at W H Smith; Harbottle & Lewis partner Shireen Peermohamed; and Jess MacDermot, group commercial director, Brand Republic Group, Haymarket Business Media, on this year’s judging panel for the trade components of the awards.

To be announced in due course, a separate judging panel, chaired by The Bookseller’s contributing editor Cathy Rentzenbrink, will preside over the book categories.

This year’s British Book Industry Awards promises to the biggest yet, with the introduction of four new book awards. The ceremony will recognise publishers, booksellers, authors, literary agents and libraries from across the book business, with 24 individual awards presented.

Submissions for the awards should be made online by next Friday (19th February). The shortlists will be announced on 11th March and the judging process will take place at the beginning of April.

Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges, said: “The authoritative panel of independent experts we have gathered to preside over the entries will once again ensure that those receiving the ultimate accolade are the companies and individuals that most merited it.”